The biology of Trypanosoma phaleri n.sp. from bowfin, Amia calva L., in Canada and the United States

Between 1985 and 1989, 133 of 136 (98%) bowfin (Amia calva) collected from Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron, Ontario, Canada, and from Sugg's Lake, Florida, U.S.A., were infected with a new species of trypanosome. Trypanosoma phaleri n.sp. was pleomorphic, developed to infective metatrypanosomes in the leech Desserobdella phalera, and was transmitted by D. phalera to laboratory-reared bowfin but not to Catostomus commersoni, Anguilla rostrata, Ictalurus nebulosus, Gasterosteus aculeatus, Salmo gairdneri, Perca flavescens, Stizostedion vitreum, or Carassius auratus. Trypanosoma phaleri n.sp. developed poorly in the leech Hemiclepsis marginata.